Man accused of smuggling operation in court

The man accused of being behind a recently busted smuggling operation made his first appearance in federal court Tuesday morning in West Palm Beach.

THE MAN ACCUSED OF BEINGBEHIND A RECENTLY BUSTEDSMUGGLING OPERATION MADE HISFIRST APPEARANCE IN FEDERALCOURT THIS MORNING - IN WESTPALM BEACH.LAST FRIDAY - POLICE IN PALMBEACH DETAINED A DOZENIMMIGRANTS WHO CAME ASHOREAROUND TEN- THIRTY A.M.

NINEOF THOSE DETAINED WERE FROMCHINA - INCLUDING ONEJUVENILE.

JOSHUA LEWIS, FROMTHE BAHAMAS, FACES ONE COUNTOF ALIEN SMUGGLING.

HE WASALLEGEDLY THE CAPTAIN OF THESHIP.

THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINTSAYS THAT LEWIS WAS CHARGEDLAST FALL WITH A SMUGGLINGCASE - AND DEPORTED ON JANUARY14TH - JUST THREE DAYS BEFORETHE LATEST INCIDENT.

W-P-T-VHAS LEARNED THE SHIP CAME INTHE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, ANDUP AGAINST EIGHT FOOT WAVES.COURT RECORDS SHOW THEPASSANGERS HAD NO LIFEJACKETS, AND CAPSIZED OFFSHORE- THROWING MOST OF THE MOST OFTHEM INTO THE OCEAN.JOSHUA LEWIS IS DUE BACK INCOURT NEXT WEEK.

MERRISBADCOCK WPTV NEWSCHANNEL 5A DRIVER CAUGHT ON CAMERAHITTING SOMEON